If you’re assuming the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle is the rarest of his standard Topps and Bowman cards, you’re correct. It’s a statistic that most collectors are familiar with. However, a comparison shows the difference in 
the number of graded Mantles from his first three seasons isn’t quite as startling as you might think.
The infographic below tallies the population numbers on the combined reports from PSA and SGC (if you have a Beckett password you can add their grading division’s numbers in).
While the 1951 Bowman rookie card is more readily available than the 1952 Topps, the difference isn’t huge with about 400 more Bowmans having been encapsulated.
More interestingly, it would appear the 1953 Bowman Mantle may be significantly undervalued considering it’s the third toughest early Mantle card to find–and by a significant margin when compared to the ’53 Topps. Yet an EX/MT (6) graded 1953 Topps Mantle typically sells for more than double what a ’53 Bowman goes for in the same grade.
You can compare prices for those early Mantle cards on eBay here.
Related Stories:
A Look at the Evolution of Early Bowman Baseball Cards
1916 Herpolsheimer’s Ruth; Second-Ranked 1956 Topps Set Bring 6 Figures at Auction
New “Baseball and Bubble Gum” Book Brings 1952 Topps Set to Life
Notes: No Philly Show; MJ Signing Jersey; Mantle Cards; Denehy on Sharing Seaver Rookie Card, More
Record Setting Robby Paces $15 Million REA Sale
Ruth, Mantle, Ryan Among Hottest Tickets in $10 Million Memory Lane Auction
One of Hobby’s Top Mantle Collections, High-Grade Goudey, Top DeLong Set in Memory Lane Premium Auction
Breakup of PSA Set Registry HOF 1968 Topps Set with 572 PSA 10s Headlines MHCC Auction
